The reign in Spain is over: Tearful Juan Carlos signs his abdication as country welcomes King Felipe and Queen Letizia | Daily Mail Online The reign in Spain is over: Tearful Juan Carlos signs his abdication as country welcomes King Felipe and Queen Letizia Prince Felipe ascends to the Spanish throne at midnight King Juan Carlos tonight signed his abdication into law after 36-year reign There won't be any ritzy official celebrations due to the economic crisis comments Crown Prince Felipe ascended to the Spanish throne at the stroke of midnight, after his father King Juan Carlos tearfully signed his own abdication into law. By royal standards, the ascension of King Felipe and his wife Queen Letizia was humble affair, with reception guests served hot and cold tapas-style nibbles, to be eaten while standing. There was no champagne, just sparkling cava wine from Spain's Catalonia region. The economic crisis that has left a quarter of Spaniards out of work prompted Europe's newest king to be relatively frugal at his proclamation.

Scroll down for videos (from left) Spanish Queen Sofia, Crown Prince Felipe, King Juan Carlos and Princess Letizia attend the ceremony where the King signed the Constitutional law allowing abdication King Juan Carlos, left, embraces Spanish Crown Prince Felipe after signing the abdication law in Madrid Princess Letizia smiles at Prince Felipe as they arrive at the ceremony this afternoon King Juan Carlos signs the constitutional law as Queen Sofia looks on Princess Letizia looked glamourous at the ceremony in a simple black and cream outfit Juan Carlos yesterday signed legislation, approved by Parliament earlier this month, setting out the legal framework for the handover. The retiring monarch, who underwent a hip replacement operation last November, used a walking cane and moved with difficulty during the televised signing ceremony. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy immediately ratified the law, which went into force at midnight in Spain. Felipe is to be formally proclaimed monarch and swear an oath at a ceremony with lawmakers in Parliament later today. It will be a no-frills event, though the 18th-century Spanish crown and 17th-century scepter will be on display.

After a brief military parade, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will take a drive through expected crowds along some of Madrid's most emblematic streets and monuments - such as the Prado Museum and the Cibeles fountain. The palace acknowledged that the customary pomp had been eliminated 'in keeping with the criteria of austerity that the times recommend.' The King speaks with Princess Leonor and Princess Sofia as Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia watch on Queen Sofia, King Juan Carlos, Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia stand to honour the ceremony. The landmark occasion will not be a particularly lavish affair to reflect the country's economic crisis The new royal couple will ascend the throne when the clock strikes midnight The reasoning behind that choice is easy to understand, says Emilio de Diego Garcia, history professor at Madrid's Complutense University. 'In a time when every expense is examined with a magnifying glass, particularly public money, any ostentation would have been criticized' he said. Juan Carlos announced his surprise decision to abdicate on June 2, saying he was stepping aside after a four-decade reign to allow for younger royal blood to rally the country that is still trying to shrug off a double-dip recession and a 26 percent jobless rate.

During most of his reign, the monarch was held in high esteem for his role in helping steer the country from military dictatorship to democracy. He took over the throne in 1975, two days after the death of longtime dictator General Francisco Franco, and then endeared himself to many by making army rebels stand down during an attempted military coup in 1981. Today is Spanish King Juan Carlos' last day on the throne before his son ascends and already the shops are packed with memorabilia to celebrate Prince Felipe's coronation His son Prince Felipe ascends to the Spanish throne at midnight, but there won't be any ritzy official celebrations Spanish Crown Prince Felipe (second left) at his last event before his proclamation as King Felipe VI More recently, however, the royal family's image was tarnished by Juan Carlos' 2012 Botswana hunting trip. Another scandal saw Juan Carlos' youngest daughter, Princess Cristina, testify this year in the fraud and money-laundering case engulfing her husband, the Olympic handball medalist turned businessman Inaki Urdangarin. Juan Carlos won broad support for his handling of Spain's 20th-century challenges. Felipe VI must now address Spain's 21st-century difficulties.

Keeping the bill down for taxpayers is just one of the challenges facing the new king. Much more pressing will be whether he can keep the country united as separatist movements, such as those in Catalonia and the Basque region, try to pull the country apart. Such an unraveling could place the monarchy itself in danger. MADRID, SPAIN - JUNE 16: Prince Felipe of Spain coronation souvenirs are displayed at stores today Prince Felipe is to be formally proclaimed monarch and swear an oath at a ceremony with lawmakers in Parliament on Thursday A woman holds a mug depicting Spanish Princess Letiza at a shop ahead of the proclamation Souvenirs depicting Crown Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia are on sale across the country The abdication announcement initially triggered widespread demonstrations calling for a referendum on reinstating a republic. But a recent poll found that while 62 percent of respondents said they wanted a referendum on the monarchy 'at some point,' 49 percent said they favored a monarchy with Felipe as king, while only 36 percent wanted a republic. Others did not answer or expressed no opinion. Felipe holds a law degree from Madrid's Autonomous University and obtained a master's in international relations from Georgetown University in Washington.

His wife is a former television journalist and a divorced commoner. Many people feel that record will help make Felipe more attuned to the public mood. Pins with a picture of Spanish Crown Prince Felipe and his wife Princess Letizia are seen in a souvenirs shop in Madrid Souvenirs depicting future King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia The palace acknowledged that the customary pomp had been eliminated 'in keeping with the criteria of austerity that the times recommend' Royal fans can be mugs with the photo of the new king plastered across them The royal family's image was tarnished by Juan Carlos's 2012 Botswana hunting trip A girl wearing a T-shirt depicting Spanish Crown Prince Felipe and his wife Princess Letizia in Madrid Diego Garcia, the Complutense professor, believes Spain is going to see 'a more austere monarchy, one closer to the people and the reality of the country.' The 2,000 guests invited to the royal reception were from a wide range of Spanish society, including Madrid ambassadors as well as representatives from the business, cultural, media and sports sectors. Authorities have blocked a planned demonstration in Madrid later today by people demanding an end to the monarchy.

The palace said it had no information on the overall cost of the events, which will be overseen by some 7,000 police. The Lower House ahead of the proclamation ceremony of the new Spanish King Felipe VI, in Madrid Workers make final preparations ahead of the proclamation ceremony tomorrow The statue of King Carlos III at the Puerta del Sol where balconies have been decorated with Spanish flags Tourists pose for a selfie with Angel, a Bulgarian man dressed as a bullfighter, in front of the Royal Palace Such an unraveling could place the monarchy itself in danger. The abdication announcement initially triggered widespread demonstrations calling for a referendum on reinstating a republic. But a recent poll found that while 62 per cent of respondents said they wanted a referendum on the monarchy 'at some point,' 49 per cent said they favored a monarchy with Felipe as king, while only 36 per cent wanted a republic. Others did not answer or expressed no opinion. Felipe holds a law degree from Madrid's Autonomous University and obtained a master's in international relations from Georgetown University in Washington. His wife is a former television journalist.

A woman hangs a Spanish flag on her balcony in front of the Royal Palace in Madrid :A woman crosses the road at Gran Via as Spanish flags hang from lampposts the day before Prince Felipe's coronation Workers place a banner depicting future King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia at a store Soldiers rehearse outside the Royal Palace in Madrid today Two firemen take part in the preparation works at the Lower House ahead of the proclamation ceremony The chairs set at the Lower House ahead of tomorrow's ceremony. During the ceremony, Crown Prince Felipe will be sat with his wife, Letizia, and his daughters Leonor and Sofia on the red chairs The table where Spanish King Juan Carlos will ratify later on the day the Constitutional law that allows his abdication, at the Royal Palace in Madrid Crown Prince Felipe of Spain and Princess Letizia of Spain visited a students' residence in Madrid last week The Last King of Spain? | openDemocracy The Last King of Spain? Fernando Betancor 3 June 2014 After 39 years on the throne, Juan Carlos de Borbón has announced his abdication of the Spanish Crown in favor of his son, Felipe.

But with leftist, republican and independence movements brewing, could Felipe be the last King of Spain? Anti-Monarchy protests had taken place in Spain in September 2013. Demotix/Fernando Capdepon Arroyo. All rights reserved. After 39 years on the throne, Juan Carlos de Borbón has announced his abdication of the Spanish Crown in favor of his son, Felipe. The departing monarch addressed the nation in a televised address to express the pride and gratitude he felt towards the people of Spain for the tremendous progress made since the transition to democracy. Juan Carlos leaves the throne in the midst of a profound economic, social and political crisis. His nation remains mired in a deep economic crisis, with high unemployment, millions slipping into poverty and increased inequality. The two party monopoly in political power enjoyed by the People’s Party and the Socialist Workers Party since the transition has suffered a severe erosion culminating in a disastrous performance in last weekend’s European Election. Juan Carlos has presided over a vast deterioration in the popularity of the Spanish monarchy and bears more than a small part of the responsibility.

He might also be the last king of a united Spain; the Catalans seem determined on exercising their right to vote on their future irrespective of the succession. White Knight or Grey Eminence? Both Spanish and foreign media have been rapid and fulsome in their praise for the Bourbon monarch. From President Obama to European Commission President Barroso, world leaders have emphasized Juan Carlos’ role in providing stability and assurance in Spain’s difficult transition from fascism to democracy. Yet the King’s role in the transition is neither clear-cut nor uncontroversial. The Spanish monarchy had been abolished in 1931 and the Bourbons had gone into exile. After the Civil War and the fall of the Second Republic, the newly installed fascist dictator Franco saw no need to share power with the royal family. It was not until Franco was nearing the end of this life that he hand-picked the young Juan Carlos as the future hedge against a return to a republican government in Spain. The young pretender to the throne shared responsibilities with the aging dictator and assumed an ever greater role as head of state during the dictator’s last years. Franco died on November 20th, 1975 and Juan Carlos was proclaimed King of Spain by Franco’s judiciary five days later.

When Spaniards voted on a new constitution in 1978, the monarchy was a non-negotiable part of it. The king’s greatest moment came in 1981, during the attempted coup known as the “ 23-F ”. Members of the Civil Guard, incensed by the rapid democratization of the country and the legitimation of the Socialist and Communist parties, attempted to reimpose authoritarianism by storming the Spanish parliament and holding the delegates hostage. They claimed they acted in the name of the King, but Juan Carlos refused to accept their calls and actively worked to express his support for the democratically elected government and to ensure that the military stayed in its barracks. The coup collapsed so quickly that many Spaniards today view it as almost farcical, but no one who had lived through the horrors of Franco’s reign took the threat lightly. Juan Carlos won immense prestige for his role from all political leaders across the spectrum. Yet even this legacy has been questioned. In her best-selling book “The Great Forgetting” released in April this year, veteran journalist Pilar Urbano paints a less heroic image of the youthful monarch. Ms.

Urbano writes that the King was not unaware of the motions of the Civil Guards, who had reasons for supposing they were acting in monarch’s interest if not on his instruction. Though the author does not deny the impact of Juan Carlos’ public declaration against the coup, Ms. Urbano declares that it only came after it was clear that the coup was destined for failure. Needless to say, the book raised a firestorm of controversy which has only been further fanned by Monday’s declaration. The Fall of a King Regardless of these insinuations, a generation of Spaniards grew old with Juan Carlos as the king that restored democracy; and another generation grew up with no direct experience of Franco’s rule, only of the monarch’s light touch in daily political life. The monarchy enjoyed widespread support across most segments of the population and especially among the survivors of the fascist regime. Even most supporters of Republic were perfectly willing to let Juan Carlos conclude his reign before pushing for change. That base of support has been eroded in recent years. The diminished role of the Franco generation explains part of this change; but the ruin of the monarch’s reputation and that of the institution he represents comes from a series of blunders and scandals that could and should have been avoided.

Criticism has been growing for some time about the opacity of the Royal House’s finances and the personal fortune of the king. When Juan Carlos returned to Spain, the Bourbon’s were penniless; today, they are worth an estimated EUR 1.7 billion (USD 2.3 billion) though no one knows for sure because the King’s accounts are shrouded in secrecy [i] . The public remains unaware of how the Bourbons have gone from paupers to billionaires, but it is surely not by earning interest on the official royal salary of EUR 300,000 [ii] . No one accuses the King of outright corruption, for the many luxurious gifts he has received are in the name of the Spanish state; but the fact remains that reiterated calls for transparency in the royal accounting have been met until last year by stony silence. If the King is not accused of corruption, his family is. The King’s son-in-law, Iñaki Undargarín, has been indicted for embezzlement of public funds, falsification and money laundering, and perverting the course of justice, through the illegal activities of his non-profit Nóos organization and a ring of corporate cronies.

If that is not bad enough, Princess Cristina, Undargarín’s wife, has been repeatedly questioned and finally indicted for her role as a Board member of the organization. The scandal itself has rocked the monarchy, but so too has the public perception of political favoritism, back channel pressure and willingness to subvert justice that has run through the case. At every stage, there have been efforts to absolve the Princess and cover her in a veil of ignorance bordering on amnesia: even the defrauded Treasury has had its agents formally absolve the role of the Princess in the multi-million euro evasions that bear her name and signature, though the judge does not believe their testimony [iii] . The Spanish Constitution declares that justice will be applied equally to all members of Spanish society, regardless of rank: so Spaniards are incensed to learn that some people appear to be more equal than others. The King suffered injury to both his person and his reputation when, in he went on a safari in Botswana in April 2012. Spanish GDP was mired in recession, unemployment had reached historic levels above 26% and the King had been on television calling on the nation for collective sacrifice to overcome the crisis.

The same nation awoke the next morning to learn that the King had broken his hip on a secret hunting trip; funded by a personal friend of the King and advisor to the Saudi Royal House; with his reputed lover, the German Princess Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein; and requiring a Spanish military transport to return him to Spain. This was not even the first time Botswana had figured in a royal gaffe; in 2005, the King had gone hunting in the African nation just days after 17 Spanish soldiers had died in Afghanistan when their helicopter crashed. [iv] These blunders have reinforced the image of a playboy king, utterly out of touch with the reality and daily suffering of the common Spaniard. Ultimate Sacrifice It does not come as much of a shock that the King should decide to abdicate in favor of the more popular and charismatic Felipe. There has been speculation since the Botswana incident that rejuvenation in the Royal House was imminent; and the King admits as much in his farewell address.

The ostensible timing was to allow the king to return fully to his duties after his long convalescence from hip surgery, thus ensuring complete normality in the transition; the King also wanted to wait until after the European Elections to avoid turning the succession into an electoral issue. The extremely strong showing of the United Left and Podemos in those elections, both strongly anti-monarchical parties, undoubtedly hastened the decision. If the decline of the two mainstream parties continues, the next general elections might do away with the absolute majority of the People’s Party and even usher in the possibility of a coalition of the Left ruling Spain. This could be disastrous for a smooth and uncontested transition as both United Left and Podemos have called for referendums on a republican government. The Spanish Socialist Workers Party has not echoed that call: so the fact that Alfredo Rubalcaba will be stepping down from his role as party leader in the wake of electoral disaster might also have influenced the decision. Mr. Rubalcaba is an old parliamentary hand who knows and esteems the king personally, while his successor might not. Having the support of both majority parties is critical because the succession is not actually codified into law.

The Spanish Constitution calls for an ad hoc process to take place through the Parliament at the time of the King’s abdication or death [v] ; and so Mariano Rajoy has called for an extraordinary meeting of ministers on Tuesday April 6th to propose a succession law. The Parliament will then have to approve the measure, which is not in doubt as the pro-monarchy People’s Party enjoys an absolute majority, but the royals undoubtedly are hoping for unanimity or something close to it, which is why Socialist backing matters. Felipe will immediately become the new head of state; the coronation is merely a ceremonial formality that will take place afterwards. The succession law will also include another provision which might be controversial in the future: lifetime immunity for the King. Once the King abdicates, the immunity from prosecution that attaches to his office will no longer apply to him. In order to avoid any future unpleasantness or scandal, the Parliament will undoubtedly include a provision of immunity for both Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia. If any past irregularities are uncovered in years to come, this might lead to awkwardness and public anger.

The King has abdicated to save the monarchy and pass his inheritance intact to his son before his waning popularity gave out; but the action has sparked the most intense debate in the nation over the future of Spain. Demonstrations were organized immediately through social media in Madrid, Valencia, Barcelona, Bilbao and other major cities. Supporters of a Third Spanish Republic came out in large numbers last night, waving the republican flag and calling for a referendum on the future of the monarchy. They will not get their wish before Felipe becomes King; but if Felipe is more popular today than his father, he also enjoys gets none of the credit for the transition to Spanish democracy. Popular discontent with the monarchy and calls for its abolition are not going to go away. Juan Carlos might also have wanted to endow his son with the Spanish crown while it still ruled over the whole of Spain. In Catalonia, the King’s announcement was greeted by Artur Mas with a cordial, if strained, commendation of the old King’s role in the transition, and an equally cordial felicitation to the new king: but with the clear message that the Catalan referendum on independence was not going to be affected or delayed in any way [vi] . Politically, Mr.

Mas has no choice: his governing CiU was outvoted for the first time in history by the Catalan Republican Left (ERC) in the European Elections. The ERC’s stance on monarchy and independence is plain enough from their name that no additional explanation is required. Backing off the referendum promise at this point would be political suicide, and open the door to a landslide ERC victory in the 2016 regional elections. That public stance does not mean that no private dialogues are underway. Juan Carlos might have understood that his continued reign was an impediment to negotiation: his ties to Franco, his role in the formation of the current constitution, all spoke against his playing the role of intermediary with Catalan moderates. Felipe is free of all that baggage, and could indeed present himself as “the third way” for a new agreement between the Catalan people and the Spanish state. An offer based on federalism and recognition of Catalonia’s “special status” that would amount to independence in all but name, united under the Bourbon crown, might find many takers in the region – especially those who are frightened by the potential for catastrophic outcomes should an illegal referendum proceed and the Spanish governments attempts to stop it with the Civil Guard.

This is not idle speculation – the idea of an independent Catalonia keeping the dynastic alliance was placed before Catalan Judge Santiago Vidal by no less than the General Council of the Judiciary last Tuesday [vii] . Mr. Vidal had been invited to present his proposals for a Catalan constitution and was cordially received. The General Council was obviously informed of the King’s imminent abdication: the question was clearly loaded. Mr. Vidal politely avoided the question, indicating that it was a decision for the Catalan people; but the draft constitution is tellingly that of a republic, not a constitutional monarchy. Prince Felipe has his work cut out for him; advocates of the monarchy are few and far between in Catalonia. But the new king will find himself struggling even to convince the rest of Spain that the monarchy should be preserved. Much will be revealed by his initial statements after his formal accession to the throne. So far, the Prince has remained silent, but that silence cannot last: otherwise, Felipe might find himself to be the last King of Spain. About the author Fernando Betancor is an American economist living in Madrid, Spain. He is an active member of Democrats Abroad and an advocate of political and economic liberalism.

He publishes articles on his website Common Sense and tweets @fdbetancor Fernando Betancor es un economista norteamericano residente en Madrid. Es miembro activo de Democrats Abroad y defensor del liberalismo político y económico. Publica artículos en su website Common Sense y tuitea en @fdbetancor Related Articles King Juan Carlos Biography (Royalty) King of Spain, 1975-2014 Name at birth: Juan Carlos Alfonso Victor María de Borbón y Borbón A member of a royal line that stretches back to Louis XIV of France, Juan Carlos I was king of Spain from 1975 until 2014, when he announced that he would abdicate the throne. Juan Carlos was born in in Rome, where his family was in exile after his grandfather, King Alfonso XIII, was forced to leave Spain when the Republic was declared in 1931. At age 10, Juan Carlos began attending school in Spain with the blessing of the Spanish dictator Francisco Franco. Juan Carlos went to military colleges, becoming an accomplished sailor and pilot, while developing a close relationship with Franco.

After Franco's death in 1975, Juan Carlos was proclaimed king and was expected to continue Franco's dictatorial, military-friendly policies. Instead he surprised the nation by supporting a transition to a modern parliamentary democracy, with himself continuing in the role of monarch and head of state. He strengthened his position in 1981, when he put down an attempted military coup by appearing on TV and ordering troops back to their bases. He became one of Europe's most popular monarchs, known especially for his physical vigor and his love of sports including skiing, karate, and motorcycle racing. (He even competed in sailing at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.) His health failed in later years: he had lung surgery in 2010 and in 2012 had a hip replaced after he broke it while on safari in Africa. After the latter incident he was widely criticized in Spain for taking an expensive vacation while most of his country was suffering through an economic crisis. On June 2, 2014, he announced his intention to give up the throne in favor of his son, who became King Felipe VI in a formal ceremony on 19 June 2014.

Extra credit: In his abdication statement, as translated by CNN, the king said it was "time to hand over to a new generation -- younger, with a lot of energy -- that can, with determination, take on and carry out the changes that the current situation demands"... Juan Carlos married Princess Sofia, the eldest daughter of King Paul I and Queen Federica of Greece, on 14 May 1962. They have three children: Elena (born 1963), Cristina (b. 1965) and Felipe (b. 1968). As the only male, Felipe became the heir to the throne... Juan Carlos is a great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria of Great Britain, through his grandmother Victoria Eugenie, wife of Alfonso XIII... According to the biography on his official site, Juan Carlos "completed his education from 1960 to 1961 at the Complutense University, Madrid, where he studied constitutional and international law, economics and taxation"... The king said "Why don't you shut up?" to President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela during a summit meeting in Chile in 2007.

The put-down played well in Spain and was turned into a popular cell phone ring tone. Copyright © 1998-2017 by Who2?, LLC. All rights reserved. King Juan Carlos of Spain. Biography, news, photos and videos Horoscope : Capricorn Juan Carlos' grandfather, Alfonso XIII, had been forced into exile in 1931 following two decades of turbulence for the Spanish monarchy. The former King passed away in 1941, and five years later the entire family moved to the Portuguese capital of Lisbon. In accordance with his father's wishes that he receive part of his education in Spain, the nine-year-old Juan Carlos, still in short trousers, arrived in Madrid for the first time in 1947. After finishing secondary school in 1954, the young Prince entered Spain's premier military academies, graduating as a naval, army and air force officer complete with pilot's wings. He completed his education at the Complutense University of Madrid, where he studied Political and International Law, Economics and Public Spending. In 1962, the dashing Spanish royal married Princess Sofia of Greece in Athens.

Three children followed, Elena in 1963, Cristina two years later and a son and heir, Felipe , in 1968. Determined to ensure the country's stability after his death, the dictator Franco, then head of state, designated an apparently pliant Juan Carlos his successor in 1969. The young prince was carefully groomed for his new role and started public life in earnest, making official trips at home and abroad. On November 22, 1975, two days after Franco's death, the 37-year-old prince was proclaimed king . In his first speech as head of state in the Cortes, or Spanish parliament, Juan Carlos laid out the basic goals for his reign to re-establish democracy and be "King of all Spaniards, without exception". Six years later, on the night of February 23, 1981, the new king faced a major challenge when a group of pro-Franco military officers led by Colonel Tejero launched an attempted coup. Bursting into parliament as it was in full session, they held the government to political ransom.

Within hours Juan Carlos had defused the situation, however, by appearing on television and ordering all military units to return to their garrisons. The king's decisive action meant any residual doubts about the return of the monarchy were effectively quashed. Juan Carlos and Sofia are proud grandparents of seven. Felipe and Letizia have a daughter Leonor (born October 2005) while Elena has two children Felipe Juan Froilán (born in July 1998) and Victoria Federica (born September 2000) and Cristina three sons, Juan Valentín (born September 1999), Pablo Nicolás (born December 2000) and Miguel (born April 2002) and a daughter Irene (born June 2005). For a number of years there has been speculation that Juan Carlos will step down in favour of his son Felipe . This intensified when the royal family suffered a series of setbacks.The marriage of the King's eldest daughter Elena to husband Jaime Marichalar broke down in 2009. Then in 2012, Cristina's husband Iñaki Urdangarin became embroiled in a corruption scandal.

He is currently at the centre of a judicial investigation into the Noos Institute, a foundation he headed. It is claimed the organisation was used to divert public funds. That same year, the monarch had to apologise after he was criticised for taking an elephant hunting trip to Botswana at a time when the country was mired in financial crisis. Once an action man, who enjoyed sailing and skiing, the King has also suffered from poor health, culminating in a series of operations on his hip. King Juan Carlos biography | birthday, trivia | Italian Royalty | Who2 King Juan Carlos Biography Name at birth: Juan Carlos Alfonso Victor María de Borbón y Borbón A member of a royal line that stretches back to Louis XIV of France, Juan Carlos I was king of Spain from 1975 until 2014, when he announced that he would abdicate the throne. Juan Carlos was born in in Rome, where his family was in exile after his grandfather, King Alfonso XIII, was forced to leave Spain when the Republic was declared in 1931. At age 10, Juan Carlos began attending school in Spain with the blessing of the Spanish dictator Francisco Franco.

Juan Carlos went to military colleges, becoming an accomplished sailor and pilot, while developing a close relationship with Franco. After Franco’s death in 1975, Juan Carlos was proclaimed king and was expected to continue Franco’s dictatorial, military-friendly policies. Instead he surprised the nation by supporting a transition to a modern parliamentary democracy, with himself continuing in the role of monarch and head of state. He strengthened his position in 1981, when he put down an attempted military coup by appearing on TV and ordering troops back to their bases. He became one of Europe’s most popular monarchs, known especially for his physical vigor and his love of sports including skiing, karate, and motorcycle racing. (He even competed in sailing at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.) His health failed in later years: he had lung surgery in 2010 and in 2012 had a hip replaced after he broke it while on safari in Africa. After the latter incident he was widely criticized in Spain for taking an expensive vacation while most of his country was suffering through an economic crisis.

On June 2, 2014, he announced his intention to give up the throne in favor of his son, who became King Felipe VI in a formal ceremony on 19 June 2014. Extra credit In his abdication statement, as translated by CNN, the king said it was “time to hand over to a new generation — younger, with a lot of energy — that can, with determination, take on and carry out the changes that the current situation demands”… Juan Carlos married Princess Sofia, the eldest daughter of King Paul I and Queen Federica of Greece, on 14 May 1962. They have three children: Elena (born 1963), Cristina (b. 1965) and Felipe (b. 1968).

As the only male, Felipe became the heir to the throne… Juan Carlos is a great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria of Great Britain, through his grandmother Victoria Eugenie, wife of Alfonso XIII… According to the biography on his official site, Juan Carlos “completed his education from 1960 to 1961 at the Complutense University, Madrid, where he studied constitutional and international law, economics and taxation”… The king said “Why don’t you shut up?” to President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela during a summit meeting in Chile in 2007. The put-down played well in Spain and was turned into a popular cell phone ring tone. Spain's King Juan Carlos I to abdicate - CNN.com Spain's King Juan Carlos I to abdicate By Al Goodman, Jethro Mullen and Elwyn Lopez, CNN Updated 4:22 PM ET, Tue June 3, 2014 Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.

JUST WATCHED A look at the reign of King Juan Carlos 02:20 Story highlights Some Spaniards rally, calling for an end to the monarchy It is "time to hand over to a new generation," the King says in a televised statement Crown Prince Felipe will succeed the King Many feel King Juan Carlos' finest hour was a stand against a coup After nearly 40 years on the throne, King Juan Carlos I of Spain said Monday that he will be stepping down. It is "time to hand over to a new generation -- younger, with a lot of energy -- that can, with determination, take on and carry out the changes that the current situation demands, and to face with intensity and determination the challenges of tomorrow," he said in a televised statement, according to a CNN translation. "The long, deep economic crisis we are going through has left a lot of scars socially, but it has also pointed toward a future of hope," he said. Crown Prince Felipe , 46, will succeed his father.

The King said he decided it was "time to prepare and pave the way so that he who is in better conditions can continue." Prince Felipe is "stable" and has "the maturity, the preparation, and the sense of responsibility necessary" to serve as king and "to lead to a new stage of hope using his experience and the drive of a new generation," King Juan Carlos added. JUST WATCHED 5 of 5 Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy first announced the King's decision. Spaniards generally hold King Juan Carlos, 76, in high regard for his service to the nation and his defense of democracy after the death of the dictator Francisco Franco in 1975. But the King's popularity took a hit in 2012 over a controversial elephant-hunting trip to Africa while the nation was mired in a deep economic crisis. The focus of his reign was to bring about reconciliation between Spaniards of different political persuasions and from different regions. Many consider the King's finest hour to be his decisive stand to halt a right-wing military coup in 1981, when he went on television to say that the monarchy would not tolerate attempts to interrupt democracy by force.

Some push for end of monarchy Thousands of people demonstrated in Madrid and elsewhere, calling for an end to the monarchy altogether after the announcement Monday. They waved flags and chanted: "La monarquia es una porqueria!" In English, that phrase means "the monarchy is garbage." On the global campaign website Avaaz.org, a petition calling for a referendum on the future of the monarchy quickly racked up more than 100,000 signatures. Most were from people indicating that they were in Spain. "This is a historic opportunity to promote a broad public debate to help regenerate our democracy and determine the future of the monarchy," Luis Javier wrote in the petition. The call was echoed on Twitter, with some users also posting photos of elephants, saying they were celebrating the King's abdication. Retirements of monarchs (and a pope) Oversaw democracy's return Born in Rome in 1938, Juan Carlos didn't set foot in Spain until he was 10. In Franco's Spain, he carried out military training and became the first Spanish officer to hold the rank of lieutenant in all three branches of the military. In 1969, he was invested as crown prince and the designated successor to Franco.

On November 22, 1975 -- two days after Franco's death -- Juan Carlos was crowned king of Spain, restoring the monarchy after a 44-year interregnum. In 1977, he enacted political reforms that led to Spain's first democratic election since 1936. During his reign, Spain grew into an economic powerhouse and a vacation playground for Europe. The King and Queen Sofia had three children and numerous grandchildren, styling their monarchy as accessible and relatively austere. Juan Carlos: All you need to know Hunting trip dented image The private trip to Botswana in 2012 became public only after King Juan Carlos fell, broke his hip and was rushed back to Madrid for surgery. With millions of Spaniards unemployed, the expense of the African trip caused an outcry. That prompted the king to make a rare apology in which he said he had made a mistake that would not happen again. The King had previously expressed his concern about the impact of the crisis on Spaniards and called on the nation to come together to get through the tough times. Other recent scandals have also damaged the monarchy's image. Princess Cristina, the king's youngest daughter, is caught up in a tax fraud and money laundering investigation.

She and her husband, Inaki Urdangarin, have denied any wrongdoing over his business dealings and the alleged diversion of public funds. The scandal has created unprecedented problems for the royal family and kept the country riveted. There have been open calls for the King to abdicate in favor of Prince Felipe, who is seen as untouched by the scandals. Profile: Spain's Juan Carlos - BBC News BBC News Close share panel Image copyright AP Image caption Juan Carlos was king for 39 years and came to the throne two days after Gen Franco's death Juan Carlos played a pivotal role in Spain's transition to democracy after General Francisco Franco's death in 1975. But his popularity and his health declined in the final years of his reign, and with Prince Felipe already groomed to succeed him, the decision to abdicate at the age of 76 will not have shocked the country. Born in exile in 1938, he was allowed to attend a Spanish school in Madrid before joining the military and attending university. He married Princess Sofia of Greece in 1962.

Juan Carlos came to the throne promising to be "king of all Spaniards, without exception" in November 1975, chosen by Franco years before as his successor. He ignored Franco's supporters, who wanted an extension to autocratic rule, and ushered in a new system of parliamentary monarchy. With the help of a clever constitutional lawyer the king skilfully avoided alienating the military, says Prof Paul Preston, a Spain historian at the London School of Economics. King Juan Carlos gave the impression until mid-1976 that he would not betray his oath to the late Gen Franco - an oath to maintain the dictatorship. Media captionJuan Carlos, 76, has had health problems in recent years But little more than five years after he came to the throne, Spain was plunged into political confusion, when a group of civil guard officers led by Lt-Col Antonio Tejero Molina stormed the lower house of parliament, the Cortes, taking hundreds of MPs hostage. Weeks earlier, Prime Minister Adolfo Suarez, who had led Spain since Franco's death, had resigned in the face of increasing security and economic problems. For hours, Spain's embryonic democracy was in jeopardy.

But the king told the civil service to take on the role of parliament from the Zarzuela Palace and the rebels eventually surrendered, when it became clear they did not have widespread support within the armed forces. Image copyright AFP Image caption Gen Franco (L) chose Juan Carlos as his successor At 01:15 on 24 February, Juan Carlos went on national TV, dressed in military uniform, to say the coup would not be tolerated. For Spaniards, that action defined his 39-year reign. In a rare interview with Spanish TV in 2000, he spoke of his desire for "the monarchy to be open and close to the people, for many people to be able to reach the King, the Queen - in short, for them to be able to see us, to be able to talk to us, to be able to speak to us". "From the outset, I knew that the monarchy could not be anything other than democratic. But the problem was, how to bring it about? This I did not know." Image copyright AFP Image caption One recent public appearance was in April when he presented writer Elena Poniatowska with the Cervantes Prize He had three children, Felipe, Cristina and Elena.

But in recent years his marriage to Sofia had come under strain and it was a hunting trip to Botswana in 2012 without her that led to a dramatic decline in his reputation. Photos were published in Spanish media of the king standing with a gun beside a dead elephant. A German divorcee, Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein, was said to have been on the expedition but denied any "improper relationship" with the king. The trip might have stayed secret but for a fall he suffered in Botswana. The king had to be flown home for surgery for a hip fracture. With Spain in the middle of economic crisis and one in four people unemployed, there was a public outcry and there were some calls for him to abdicate. Media captionKing Juan Carlos gave a public apology as he left hospital in April 2012 As he left hospital in Madrid, he made his first-ever public apology: "I have made a mistake and it won't happen again." But the royal family's troubles continued with a long-running investigation into the business affairs of the king's youngest daughter's husband.

The Infanta Cristina herself had to appear in court in March 2014 as a formal suspect in the embezzlement case of her husband, the Duke of Palma Inaki Urdangarin. Although the royal household tried to separate the king from the scandal, an opinion poll in January 2014 suggested that 62% of Spaniards would like to see him abdicate. He appeared at an annual military event and struggled through a speech, his ill-health plain to a national audience. Prof Preston says the king appears to have decided that for the monarchy to survive he had to move sooner rather than later. The monarchy's image has been stained by corruption scandals among Spain's ruling elite, he says, while many ordinary people suffer economic hardship. Explaining his abdication in his 2 June TV address, Juan Carlos said he had first considered stepping down in January and had made his decision to make way for "a new generation". Announcing the king's abdication, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said in tribute: "For 39 years he was the best symbol of our peaceful co-existence. His figure is so closely linked to democracy that one cannot be understood without the other."

Question: What year was Juan Carlos proclaimed King of Spain?
Answer: 1975